As the bus takes us to George Town for breakfast, I glance out the window and see how similar Penang and Phuket islands are to one another. Both old cities are home to a unique collection of magnificent classic Sino-Portuguese buildings that harmoniously fuse Eastern and Western architectural styles.
To observe a way of local life, we sit at a cosy-yet-sleek cafe and enjoy delicious coffee that pairs well with freshly baked bagels stuffed with eggs and ham or salmon cream cheese. At the same time, a nostalgic look at a network of artistic streets allows us to picture Peninsular Malaysia in 1786 when British Captain Francis…